John Adams to Abigail Adams

[dateline] Octr. 29. 1775

There is, in the human Breast, a social Affection, which extends to our whole Species.
Faintly indeed; but in some degree. The Nation, Kingdom, or Community to which We
belong is embraced by it more vigorously. It is stronger still towards the Province
to which we belong, and in which We had our Birth. It is stronger and stronger, as
We descend to the County, Town, Parish, Neighbourhood, and Family, which We call our
own.—And here We find it often so powerfull as to become partial, to blind our Eyes,
to darken our Understandings and pervert our Wills.

It is to this Infirmity, in my own Heart, that I must perhaps attribute that local
Attachment, that partial Fondness, that overweening Prejudice in favour of New England,
which I feel very often and which I fear sometimes, leads me to expose myself to just
Ridicule.

New England has in many Respects the Advantage of every other Colony in America, and
indeed of every other Part of the World, that I know any Thing of.

1. The People are purer English Blood, less mixed with Scotch, Irish, Dutch, French,
Danish, Sweedish &c. than any other; and descended from Englishmen too who left Europe,
in purer Times than { 319 } the present and less tainted with Corruption than those they left behind them.

2. The Institutions in New England for the Support of Religion, Morals and Decency,
exceed any other, obliging every Parish to have a Minister, and every Person to go
to Meeting &c.

3. The public Institutions in New England for the Education of Youth, supporting Colledges
at the public Expence and obliging Towns to maintain Grammar schools, is not equalled
and never was in any Part of the World.

4. The Division of our Territory, that is our Counties into Townships, empowering
Towns to assemble, choose officers, make Laws, mend roads, and twenty other Things,
gives every Man an opportunity of shewing and improving that Education which he received
at Colledge or at school, and makes Knowledge and Dexterity at public Business common.

5. Our Laws for the Distribution of Intestate Estates occasions a frequent Division
of landed Property and prevents Monopolies, of Land.1

But in opposition to these We have laboured under many Disadvantages. The exorbitant
Prerogatives of our Governors &c. which would have overborn our Liberties, if it had
not been opposed by the five preceding Particulars.

1. The nature of New England institutions and their influence on New England character
and society were subjects endlessly fascinating to JA and lifelong themes in both his private and public writings. For a few samples see
his fragmentary Draft of a Dissertation on Canon and Feudal Law, Feb. 1765 (Diary and Autobiography, 1:256–258); letter to Abbé Mably, 15 Jan. 1783, LbC, Adams Papers (printed in various places but most conveniently in JA, Works, 5:491–496, with an editorial note explaining the circumstances of its composition);
and notes on his conversation with William Langborn of Virginia in London, 21 July
1786 (Diary and Autobiography, 3:195–196).

Docno: ADMS-04-01-02-0211

Author: Adams, John

Recipient: Adams, Abigail

Date: 1775-11-04

John Adams to Abigail Adams

[dateline] Novr. 4. 1775

Have but Yesterday received yours of Octr. 21.

Your Letters of the following Dates I have received. Septr. 8. and 10. 16. 29. Oct.
1. 9. 21. 22.1 These Letters and indeed every Line from you, gives me inexpressible Pleasure, notwithstanding
the melancholly Scenes discribed in most of them of late.

I am happy to learn that the Family is in Health once more, and hope it will continue.

My Duty to my Mother. I wish she would not be concerned about me. She ought to consider
that a Dissentery can kill as surely as a Cannon. This Town is as secure from the
Cannon and Men of War as the Moon is. I wish she had a little of your Fortitude. I
had rather be kill'd by a Ball than live in such continual Fears as she does.

I cant write so often as I wish: I am engaged from 7 in the Morning till 11. at Night.

Two Pair of Colours belonging to the Seventh Regiment, were brought here last night
from Chambly, and hung up in Mrs. Hancocks Chamber with great Splendor and Elegance.
That Lady sends her Compliments and good Wishes. Among an hundred Men, almost at this
House she lives and behaves with Modesty, Decency, Dignity and Discretion I assure
you. Her Behaviour is easy and genteel. She avoids talking upon Politicks. In large
and mixed Companies she is totally silent, as a Lady ought to be—but whether her Eyes
are so penetrating and her Attention so quick, to the Words, Looks, Gestures, sentiments
&c. of the Company, as yours would be, saucy as you are this Way, I wont say.

But to resume a more serious subject. You ask me to write to your Father and sister,
and my Heart wishes and longs to do it, but you can have no Conception, what there
is to prevent me. I really fear I shall ruin myself for Want of Exercise.